ANOTHER SUNNY DAY (2 page)

Sarah could always be counted on to be the sensible sister. Their mother had often said that when they were born, Sunny got all the talent, Sarah got all the brains, and the beauty was distributed evenly between them. Sarah could no more imitate Sunny's magical voice than Sunny could coordinate a road tour or handle the large volume of fan mail.

A frown crossed
Sunny's perfect face, then disappeared. "That's no problem. You can ride on the trail ride and in the parade, and then we'll make the grand switch, and I'll do the show at the rodeo. No one will ever be the wiser."

"It just might work at that," Mack contributed. "Sunny could use the time to rest her vocal cords and get her act together so we won't be coming up with this problem again anytime soon."

"I never realized you two were such talented con artists. How long did it take you to work up this little performance?" Sarah asked incredulously. "Well, if you want my opinion, which I seriously doubt, I think that all those late nights and loud music have finally scrambled your brains, because if you think this crazy scheme would work, then you've both lost whatever good sense I gave you credit for having!"

"Oh, please, Sarah," Sunny pleaded. "I know that I really owe you a lot for all the things you've done for me for the last few years—actually all my life—but this is really important to me. You know how long I've wanted to play Vegas, and if you'll do this one teeny little favor for me, I promise I won't get myself into this situation ever again." She paused to catch her breath, trying to look as pitiful and helpless as possible, knowing that Sarah had always been a sucker for anyone or anything in trouble.

Sarah, however, was on to this trick. Sunny might be able to play little games with someone else, but certainly not with her twin sister, who had shared and taken part in every aspect of her life since their conception in their mother's womb. But even knowing she was being used as an accomplice in a possibly awkward situation, Sarah was tempted.

With every passing day in another different city she was becoming more dissatisfied with the kind of life she was leading. Her sister was building her career and doing something that, with only a few exceptions, she really enjoyed. But show business was not Sarah's idea of a perfect lifestyle. Her idea of heaven was a peaceful day outdoors, preferably on horseback, with human companionship at a minimum. Maybe this brief masquerade was just what the doctor had ordered . . . a vacation away from the daily pressures and schedules with nothing more important to worry abo
ut than avoiding saddle sores.

But could she get away with it? It had been many years since she and Sunny had played this little game with their friends, teachers, and sometimes even their parents. Oddly enough, the two young girls had almost always gotten by without discovery. The bond between the sisters had remained strong through the years, but their own personalities had differentiated and become more defined as they grew older. It would certainly be embarrassing if she failed to succeed with this pretense, and the bad publicity could be devastating to
Sunny's career. But both women could use the break in routine.

"Okay, I'll go along with this little scheme of yours under one condition," Sarah said finally, waving back
Sunny's attempt to ecstatically hug her. "Hear me out on this, because I mean what I'm about to say.

"I'm not completely sure I can carry this masquerade off without being caught, but I'll do my best. The favor I want from you in return is my freedom. Sunny, I want you to take this time off to get your life enough under control so you won't need me to follow you around on any more of your road trips. I want to settle down and have a home base, not live out of a suitcase in a lonely hotel
room for the rest of my life."

"B
ut, I couldn't," Sunny gasped.

"No buts. I need to build a life of my own, and now is as good a time as any. I can buy a little place near Dad and Mom in Lexington with the money I've saved." Her large aquamarine-colored eyes filled with tears at the thought of the ties she was attempting to sever. "I'll miss you like I would miss my left arm, but it's time we
tried to make it on our own."

The two sisters fell into a tearful embrace while Mack looked on, his own eyes suspiciously moist. The agreement was reached and sealed with only the details of the ch
angeover yet to be worked out.

Much later that day the two sisters stood before the large full-length mirrors in
Sunny's hotel suite. The reflections shining back at them would have caused any unsuspecting bystander to do a double take. Except for the different costumes the young women looked identical. Both had the same smooth perfect features, which were dominated by huge expressive eyes that were a most unusual shade of bright blue with just a hint of green, set in a thick fringe of dark lashes. Sarah had kept her hair its natural shade of dark honey-gold, but Sunny had lightened hers several shades to a pale shimmering blond and had dozens of wigs to match, one of which now covered Sarah's own pinned up locks. Sunny had helped Sarah apply the heavy makeup that the singer never appeared in public without, and had chosen an outfit from the closetful in her room. The effect was so eerie that Sarah had to reach out and touch her image, as if to identify herself in the mirror.

Mack came barreling into the room. "Sunny, here's your airline ticket to Nashville, and I have Sarah's tickets to Houston . . ." He froze in his tracks, his mouth dropping open in amazement as he caught sight of the twins. His outstretched hand holding
Sunny's tickets hesitated first in front of her, then swung to Sarah.

"I can't believe it. I never realized the resemblance was so strong. I honestly can't tell you apart." He shook his head and laughed. "Sarah, whoever you are,
are you absolutely positive you can't sing? We could be making twice as much money."

The women exchanged glances and giggled. They had gotten this sort of reaction often when they were children, and old memories, almost forgotten
, flashed through their minds.

"When do you breathe?" Sarah ran her hand over
her skin-tight stretch pants.

"These clothes may take a little getting used to, but without the flashy outfits I would be just another church choir singer waiting to be noticed. Besides, you know the old saying that a sexy woman is one who wears her clothes so tight that a man can hardly breathe!"
Sunny was only half joking.

"I doubt if I can even bend my knees enough to mount a horse. And this wig is like wearing a swimming cap all the time, not to mention that my face feels like it could crack into a million pieces and fall off onto the floor a
t any minute."

Sunny laughed at her sister's dismayed expression. "After a little more practice you'll look and feel like an old pro. You might even want to have a few singing lessons and take Mack up on his offer to hit the road with me," she teased. "You always have been too conservative. Maybe this experience will give you a chance to
loosen up and have some fun."

"Your idea of fun and my idea of fun apparently are two very different things," Sarah declared as she reached eagerly for her faded, well-worn jeans. She had only a few more hours to be herself before she began her new role as Sunny Day.

CHAPTER TWO

Sarah knew she had been manipulated; not maliciously but effectively pushed into a situation that was awkward at best and comple
tely humiliating at worst.

She had always traveled with Sunny, but Sunny cast a large shadow that caused everyone in her entourage to be outshone by her brilliance. It soon became evident that traveling with a superstar and actually being a superstar were two entirely different experiences. The airplane had barely lifted off the runway and the Fasten Your Seat Belts sign blinked off before her fellow passengers, hesitantly at first, found an excuse to approach her, requesting her autograph on any object that was handy, from a cocktail napkin to a plaster cast on one man's broken arm. Sarah smilingly obliged, even accepting a couple of good-natured kisses from
overardent fans. Sometime after the first hour, however, the novelty wore off, and she escaped for a few minutes of quiet in the tiny restroom.

The face staring back at her from the mirror looked familiar, but not like
herself. Sarah had always admired Sunny's dazzling beauty and flamboyance but had never envied it. It was amazing how a fluffy blond wig and heavy but attractive makeup could change a very pretty all-American girl into a beautiful celebrity, beloved, or at least recognized, by almost everyone. The silliness of the situation struck her, and she made an ugly face at her reflection, then giggled at the undignified image.

It was a relief when the seat belt sign again lit up and people returned to their seats. The twinkling lights of Houston stretched out for miles below them as the plane circled the airport before touching down on the runway. The flight attendant graciously allowed Sarah to leave the plane first. She exited through the extended covered hallway, looking for the representative of the Houston Rodeo Association who was to meet her here and escort her to the trail ride's begi
nning site.

What she wasn't expecting was the crowd of cheering fans that immediately grouped around her. Apparently the advance publicity had been a resounding success, because it seemed that half of Harris County must be packed into the stuffy waiting room, all armed with cameras that flashed directly into her eyes, causing her to be momentarily blinded b
y dozens of bright tiny stars.

It was impossible to acknowledge all the shouted greetings and requests as faceless hands grabbed her clothes, pulling and tugging until she was sure she would be torn apart. Swallowing back waves of hysteria, she tried to keep smiling in spite of her increasing terror. There was no shore in sight across the wide sea of demanding faces, and her progress had been completely halted. Uniformed guards attempted vainly to control the crowd, but things h
ad already gotten out of hand.

Out of the corner of her eye Sarah noticed a tall man, his strikingly handsome face partially hidden in the shadow of a gray cowboy hat, pushing through the crowd toward her. She heard his deep voice through the crowd noise as he leaned close to her ear to announce, "I'm Tyler Ross from the Rod
eo Association. Come with me."

"Gladly! I'll follow you anywhere. Just take me away from this madhou
se."

Instead of allowing her to trail behind him he wrapped a steel-hard arm around her slim shoulders and sheltered her much smaller, trembling body with his own as he propelled her
masterfully through the crowd, succeeding where the guards had failed to make a path when none seemed possible. In spite of the pandemonium and flashbulbs that still twinkled around her like Christmas tree lights, she experienced a feeling of security, which was being provided by the strength and masculinity that emanated from this man. Without resistance she accepted his assistance, thankful beyond words that he was with her, escorting her through the mass of grasping fans as they slowly made their way to the central terminal of the airport.

Without pausing at the luggage area he continued through the lobby and out the glass doors to the parking lot, where a candy-apple-red Mercedes sat waiting, its motor purring expectantly. A porter stood next to the open front door, and Sarah climbed in gracefully. Tyler shut her door and after passing the porter a tip, walked around the sleek car to get in on the driver's side. They then drov
e off smoothly into the night.

"My luggage?" she asked.

"It's in the trunk. You should be used to special service at airports." His rich baritone drifted through the semidarkness of the car's interior, but his sharp questioning look made Sarah realize her mistake.

Sunny had never given her luggage a second thought except for the time she went to Cheyenne and all her clothes went to Buffalo. A frantic shopping trip had ensued, and Sarah had added keeping up with the luggage to her list o
f duties as Sunny's assistant.

Just now, though, Sarah had accidentally slipped back into her own identity. Her question had been an automatic response
because she always took care of things, including luggage.  But it was definitely not in character for Sunny Day. She would have to be more careful, but for now it was a good time to change the subject and hope Tyler Ross wouldn't give her little lapse another thought.

"I guess I should have asked you for some identification," she commented casually, gazing curiously at the masculine profile. Her open scrutiny of his face revealed little as the flash of passed streetlights briefly bathed his strong features. "But frankly I was so glad to be rescued, I would have welcomed Attila the Hun. Where is the cavalry when you r
eally need them?" she quipped.

He glanced at her without comment, then leaned over and flipped open the glove compartment. Inside, among the usual pile of papers and maps was a laminated badge, which he handed to her. He then turned on the overhe
ad light so she could read it.

Trying to conceal her interest, she swiftly skimmed through the succinct description typed beneath a tiny color photograph: